Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Philadelphia Flyers Prediction, NHL Odds
It’s a quick one-game road trip for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday night as they make their final visit of the season to the improved Philadelphia Flyers, who are -135 favourites on the NHL odds with a total of 5.5 goals.
Maple Leafs vs. Flyers NHL Betting Odds
Former Eastern Conference power Philadelphia has missed the playoffs five straight seasons but is right in the mix under first-year coach Rick Tocchet as the former Vancouver Canucks boss has done a nice job. The team did well in the off-season in adding former Flames goalie Dan Vladar and ex-Canadiens centre Christian Dvorak as both are playing well. Dvorak was on a one-year deal but recently was extended on a five-year, $25 million (US) extension). To make the post-season, the Flyers are +110 with no at -130.
Thursday marks the second of three regular-season meetings between the teams with the finale and lone meeting in Toronto on March 2. On Nov. 1 in Philadelphia, the Leafs trailed 1-0 barely a minute in on a Dvorak goal but scored the next four and won 5-2. Auston Matthews had a goal and now at least one point in 12 straight games against Philadelphia dating to December 2019.
Anthony Stolarz made 31 saves to earn the win over the franchise that drafted him as Stolarz was a second-round pick by the Flyers in the 2012 NHL draft. Vladar allowed four goals on 19 shots before being pulled after Easton Cowan’s goal early in the third period and replaced by Aleksei Kolosov.
Toronto is 9-1 in the past 10 meetings overall, and the over-under is 8-2.
Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto won for the third time in four games Tuesday, 4-1 at home over two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida. Easton Cowan (fifth of season), Matthew Knies (12th), Auston Matthews (21st) and Bobby McMann (13th) had the goals.
Former Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin was in attendance and part of a pregame ceremony to mark Matthews becoming the all-time franchise leader in goals. Sundin had the mark at 420 and Matthews now sits at 422. He has scored six goals in his last three games and has 11 points (7G, 4A) in his last five.
McMann has five points (2G, 3A) has a career-high-tying four-game points streak. Knies had his 11th multi-point game of the season and has nine points (5G, 4A) in his last seven games.
The Maple Leafs were 0-for-2 on the power play but 3-for-3 on the penalty kill. Joseph Woll stopped 31 of 32 shots after struggling in his previous two outings.
Blueliner Brandon Carlo returned after missing 23 games with an injury and was plus-2 in 17:41 of ice time. However, fellow defenceman Jake McCabe (16 points, plus-26 rating) was out with a lower-body injury and likely to miss a week. The Leafs are 0-5 in their past five road games.
Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia is off its second 5-2 win in a row Tuesday, coming at home vs. Anaheim. Trevor Zegras had two goals (up to 17 on the season) against his former team and was the No. 1 star.
Zegas reached 40 points in the season in his 41st game, requiring the fewest games to 40 career points with the franchise since current general manager Daniel Briere took 39 games in 2007-08.
Former Calgary Flame Dan Vladar stopped 16 of 18 shots to continue his excellent season. The Flyers went just 1-for-8 on the power play, including a five-minute man advantage and a 5-on-3.
Travis Sanheim, who was named to Team Canada for the Italy Olympics, tied Ed Van Impe for the fourth-most games played by a defenceman in Flyers history at 620.
Excellent young forward Matvei Michkov (23 points) was out injured and then winger Bobby Brink (20 points) and blueliner Jamie Drysdale (18 points) both left injured. Michkov will at least play Thursday. The Over is 5-2 in Philly’s past seven.
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